Pelican hook remote release mechanism

ABSTRACT

A PELICAN HOOK RELEASE MECHANISM HAVING A HOUSING ATTACHED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FRAME MEMBER. A SHEAR WIRE HOLDS A RELEASE PIN IN POSITION BETWEEN TWO LOBES ON THE HOUSING. AN EXPLOSION CHAMBER AND MEANS FOR RETAINING AN EXPLOSIVE SQUIB OR CARTRIDGE IS DISPOED IN ONE LOBE AND A PIN RECEIVER BARREL IS DISPOSED OPPOSITE IN THE OTHER LOBE. THE HOOK IS RELEASED WHEN THE RELEASE PIN IS DRIVEN INTO THE RECEIVER BARREL BY THE PRESSURE FROM THE EXPLOSION CHAMBER IN THE SQUIB RETAINER LOBE.

Oct. 26,1971 RQSENTHAL ETI'AL 3,615,116

PELICAN HOOK REMOTE RELEASE MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1969 INVENTORS.Smarty fiauwmu.

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| U 13 TI 5 o 1 3 y 16124217 C. 3567'! 7' United States Patent Oce3,615,116 Patented Oct. 26, 1971 3,615,116 PELICAN HOOK REMOTE RELEASEMECHANISM Sidney Rosenthal, Newton, James C. Payne, Bedford, and

Hazard C. Benedict, Waltham, Mass., assignors to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Mar. 25,1969, Ser. No. 810,263 Int. Cl. 1366c ]/34 US. Cl. 29483 AE 1 ClaimABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pelican hook release mechanism having ahousing attached to the upper portion of the frame member. A shear wireholds a release pin in position between two lobes on the housing. Anexplosion chamber and means for retaining an explosive squib orcartridge is disposed in one lobe and a pin receiver barrel is disposedopposite in the other lobe. The hook is released when the release pin isdriven into the receiver barrel by the pressure from the explosionchamber in the squib retainer lobe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a releasemechanism for a pelican type of hook and, more particularly, theinvention is concerned with providing a remotely operable releasemechanism including a release pin which maintains the hook in closedposition until a charge is fired causing the pin to slide out ofengagement with the hook allowing the hook to release to the openposition.

Heretofore, when using the pelican hook as a means for holding orpulling a load, it was necessary to physically release the load at therequired time. This meant that the hook had to be within reach of theperson using it. For example, in the fishing industry, the pelican hookis used a great deal around the ships for hauling nets and raising heavyloads. In order to release the load, it is necessary for a man to hitthe latch with a hammer. Many times this operation requires that the manassume a precarious position over the side of the ship. Thus, althoughthe pelican hook is extremely versatile and inexpensive, the releaseoperation detracts considerably from its usefulness and limits itsutility under certain conditions.

It would be most desirable to provide a remote means for releasing theload from the hook at the desired time. Since the pelican hook is readilavailable in several sizes depending on the strength requirements, aremote release capability would greatly increase the versatility of theitem. The pelican book could be used in a variety of ways, such as, onlarge plastic balloons that carry loads into the upper atmosphere, aswell as rockets and other aircraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a reliable,low-cost, remotely activated mechanism for releasing a preloaded pelicantype book. The hook is retained in the closed position by a pin held inplace between two lobes of a locking fixture. One lobe operates as anexplosion chamber and the other as a pin receiver. The explosion chamberis so designed to permit its use with either explosive squibs orexplosive cartridges. A second quib retainer is in communication withthe explosive chamber may be included for redundancy or added force.Also, a bellows type initiator could be used where an explosive would beundesirable.

The hook is released by activating the explosive in either one or bothsquib retainers which sends gas at high pressure into the explosionchamber. The pressure of the gas exerts a pressure against the end ofthe retaining pin, driving it into the receiving lobe, thereby releasingthe hook. The hook is then free to rotate downward by the moment createdby the shape of the hook and the weight of the suspended load.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a pelican typehook having remotely controllable means for releasing the load from thehook.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pelican hook wherein therelease pin does not support the load on the hook, thereby requiringonly minimal force to release the load.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pelican hookwherein the means for remotely releasing the load from the hook includesa slidable bolt-type release pin which operates to release the load uponactivation of an explosive cartridge or the like.

A further object of the inveintion is to provide a reliable and low-costmeans for remotely releasing a pelican type hook in response to a radiosignal or timer after passage of a predetermined time or when aspecified altitude is reached.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pelican hookhaving a locking fixture with two lobes in spaced lateral relationship.A release pin is positioned between the lobes and slides into one of thelobes when an explosive charge on the other lobe is activated.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become moreapparent after considering the description that follows taken inconjunction with the attached drawings wherein like reference charactersare used throughout to identify like elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front View of a pelican hookhaving a remote release mechanism according to the invention incondition for holding a load; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pelican hook assembly of FIG. 1 showing thehook in the closed or loaded position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, thepelican hook remote release mechanism according to the inventionincludes a hook portion 13 having its lower end ivotally attached to aframe 15. The release assembly 17 includes two outwardly extending lobes19 and 21. The first lobe 19 is provided with an explosion chamber 23which comprises a cylindrical opening through the central portionthereof. Squib retainers 25 and 27 are fixedly attached to the lobe 19in communication with the explosion chamber 23.

The second lobe 2-1 is provided with a receiving barrel 29 threadablyattached thereto and includes a central cylindrical opening therein. Thereceiving barrel 29 is provided with a bolt head to aid in theinstallation thereof on the lobe 21 and to close the outer end of thecylindrical opening. A release pin 31 is positioned between the lobes 19and 21 with the ends thereof extending into the central openings of thelobes. The end of the release pin 31 nearest the lobe 19 on which thesquib retainers 23 and 25 are installed is provided with a cuppedportion 33 so as to react more elfectively to the gas pressure from theexplosive chamber 23. The other end of the release pin 31 is providedwith a small hole 35 into which a soft metal wire may be inserted. Inpractice, the wire passes through an aligned opening in the receivingbarrel 29 and serves to prevent relative movement between the pin 31 andthe barrel 29 until such movement is desired.

MODE OF OPERATION In operation, the hook 13 is retained in the closedposition by the release pin 31 which is held in position between thelobes 19 and 21 of the locking fixture 17. The lobe 19 which includesthe explosion chamber 23 has attached thereto a pair of squib retainers'25 and 27 containing explosive material. Cartridges" may also beinserted in the elements 25 and 27 before they are attached to the lobe1-9. Threadedly attached to the lobe 21 is the receiving barrel 29 whichis hollow to receive the pin 31 When it is driven thereinto. A wireinserted in the hole 35 prevents any unwanted movement of the pin 31.

The hook 13 is released by activating the explosives contained in one orboth of the retainers 25 and 27 which creates a high pressure gaseousarea in the chamber 23. The pressure of the gas exerts a force againstthe cupped end 33 of the release pin 31 which shears the soft metal wirein the hole 35 and drives the pin 31 into the receiving barrel 29. Thisreleases the hook 13 which is then free to rotate downward by the momentcreated by the shape of the hook and the weight of the suspended load.

Since the release pin 31 does not support the load on the hook 13, onlyminimal force is necessary to release the hook. This would indicate thateither one or both of the retainers 25 and 27 may be activated toaccomplish the release of the hook 13 and, if only one is used, theother may be either for redundancy or for added force. Also, a bellowstype initiator could be used in situations where an explosive would beundesirable.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in terms ofpreferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that certain changes, alterations, modifications andsubstitutions, particularly with respect to the construction details,can be made in the arrangement and location of the various 3 closedposition including a hook portion and a frame portion, a remote releasemechanism comprising a pair of lobes extending outwardly from the frameportion,

the first of said lobes having a central opening therethrough and thesecond of said lobes having a corresponding opening in alignmenttherewith, said second lobe being positioned laterally opposite saidfirst lobe and spaced therefrom, the lower portion of said hook portionbeing pivotally attached to the lower portion of said frame portion, theupper end of said hook portion being positioned within said frameportion between said first and second lobes when pivoted into the closedposition, a sliding release pin positioned between said first and secondlobes and straddling said lobes, the upper end of said hook portionresting against the inner surface of said release pin, the ends of saidrelease pin extending partially into the central openings of said lobeseffectively holding said hook in the closed position, and means fordriving said release pin into said second lobeincluding an explosionchamber in the central opening in said first lobe and at least one squibretainer in communication with said explosion chamber, said squibcontaining an explosive therein to cause said release pin to be drivenlaterally from its position straddling said first and second lobes intosaid second lobe thereby vacating the space between said lobes to allowthe upper part of said hook portion to pivot downward to the openposition and release the load being held.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,407 5/1906 Ferguson 254l931,625,910 4/1927 'Ramsey 254-l93 2,407,758 9/ 1946 MacCluney 294-832,489,984 11/ 1949 Shoemaker 29483.l ER 3,130,703 4/ 1964 Thompson294-83 3,228,332 l/l966 Snyder 294-83 HARVEY C. HORNSBY, PrimaryExaminer M. F. MAFFEI, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 29483, 84

